According to Scripture, earthly possessions are not to be the primary focus of a believer's life. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:19-21 that one's treasure should be stored in heaven, rather than on earth, and warns against serving two masters in Matthew 6:24. The book of Hebrews reminds believers to be content with what they have, as God has promised never to leave or forsake them (Hebrews 13:5). The apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3:1-4 that believers should set their minds on things above, not on earthly things, and specifically instructs them to set their affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2).
Relevance Score
26%
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?” And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
